The muse makes a difference in police/youth relations

Police Chief Kristen Anderson, Officer Eric Franz, Officer Troy Surber and county Probation Officer Jim Singleton spent six hours a day for five days last week at Fort Worden State Park with six at-risk youths.

Why? The officers and kids were writing poetry under the guidance of poet Christine Hemp and her assistant, Tobin Marsh. The objective? To open the pathways of communication between the two seemingly disparate groups. And by listening to each other, to break down some barriers and establish some common ground for respect and understanding.

The outcome? Success!

Called "Connecting Chord: Kids and Cops," the program was modeled on a similar one conducted by Hemp in the tough Brixton section of London, England. There she brought together white police officers and black youths to write and perform poetry. With the commitment of Chief Anderson and Barbara Johnson of Jefferson County Juvenile and Family Court Services, $7,700 was pulled together to make it happen. The Andy Eldridge Scholarship Fund, county money, community donations and an anonymous matching grant were used for the program. Local businesses donated food.

Onstage

Friday night, Oct. 19, police officers and youths shared their experience in a poetry and music performance at Port Townsend High School. Participating youths were John Herron, Crystol Brown, Dave Jevne, Ryan Baker, Sarah McDonough and Robby Little.

Hemp introduced the evening by saying, "In a small corner of this country this week, 11 people have shown great courage." Their week together at Fort Worden was spent "writing poetry, tackling tough questions, and finding language for what is often not said. During the course of this week, both officers and teens have found a profound voice - through their writing and in their candid exchange."

Hemp described the process of transforming life experience into art, "They were able to reveal themselves through the written word, writing about things that made them feel uncomfortable. When you turn your experience into a poem, it turns into something else. It transforms the experience." Sarah McDonough read the first poem. It was based on the exercise of looking at a famous painting or postcard image, and seeing it as though it represented her darker side. She chose an image of Mt. Rainier, and began her poem: "I can be so cold, like the snow." Her voice was clear and strong as she read the descriptive piece. Revealed to the audience was a startlingly direct observation of the self, encompassing both a ruthless search for self-preservation and an awareness of the sacrifices inherent in this approach to life. While the information could have been a mere list of confessions or self-pity, in McDonough's writing and delivery it was art. She created strong images for this listener, evoking emotion and understanding, creating from personal experience a universal one.

Tough subjects

As each member of the group read his or her poems in turn, Hemp described some of their experiences during the week, and some of the writing exercises that led to the creation of a certain poem. David Jevne and Chief Anderson both read their poems on the topic of fear. Jevne started: "I was afraid when they took my life away," and went on to question: "How could I go on with all this pain inside, left nowhere to run, finding no place to hide?" While his poem described the worst for Jevne, as he read out loud, he seemed to be putting the past behind. He clearly had humor and intelligence working for him - and now the opportunity for a new voice through poetry.

Chief Anderson's poem came from a personal childhood memory of hiding as her angry father yelled his complaints. As she described flying pizza and screaming, it evoked the crashing sound of plates and dishes - and a child somehow coping but wishing to be anywhere but there. These difficult subjects, as with McDonough's words, were transformed by meter and rhyme into art.

When asked to speak about the week, Anderson said: "I didn't know how this week was going to turn out. I didn't know if the officers would ever forgive me or if my own pride would survive. But I did know that I love kids, and there's been a communication gap for a long time between kids and the police.

"I was moved by the humanity of my coworkers, and the wit and intellect of the kids. They truly belong to all of us. You coming to show your support is important to them and to me."

Camaraderie

There was a palpable feeling of camaraderie onstage. To judge by the poetry read, the ease and humor shared during the performance, and the remarkably candid nature of the work created, Chief Anderson's gamble paid off. Hemp remarked that for the officers, it was a risk to come into a group like this and maintain their authority. As Officer Surber noted, he had arrested some of the kids three and four times.

Everyone wrote a poem to another person in the group, and received a poem in return. Surber's poetry partner was Ryan Baker. These poems took the form of a thank-you, and as several were read during the performance, they created a profound appreciation in the audience. Baker's poem thanked Surber for working with him when he was in trouble, being nice, and not yelling. Surber's poem to Baker revealed a depth of compassion for him, a deep commitment to helping him control his anger, and some useful, caring advice. It was impressive to see the young man and his arresting officer meet at this level, holding nothing back, being utterly committed.

The performance ended with everyone singing a song, and many playing an instrument. While Hemp strummed the guitar and Robby Little set the rhythm with his drumming, others added the percussive sounds of items from Hemp's kitchen drawers. The song was an oldie, "Dream Lover," and the group looked a little sheepish singing it. But pure fun won them over as Anderson and McDonough took their breaks on spoons and cowbell. Their performance demonstrated a group that became cohesive through shared experience.

Surber said, "It was good to see the kids dig a little deeper, and nice to be reminded that they do care." Anderson felt as though her officers had been heard, and was impressed by their willingness to display their humanity and participate, regardless of how far they were outside their comfort zone. She said: "The first day everyone was at arm's length. It was a very cold morning. Even by Tuesday a lot of things had broken down. The kids took the responsibility to tow the line and help other people."

The Leader OnLine ©2001 Jefferson County Leader.
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Phone: (360) 385-2900. Fax: (360) 385-3422. Email: news@ptleader.com.

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